Five-year old dressage horse Sugarloaf Sirhara and 4-year old dressage pony Rosewater Driving Miss Daisy were named Champion of Champions in the 2012 Australian Young Horse and Pony Championships held at the 2012 Dressage with the Stars CDI-W in Werribee, Australia, on 23 - 25 March 2012.
The Australian Young Horse Championships take place in three age categories from 4 to 6-year old. The 4-year old division, which was judged by Emile Faurie, Mrs Colliander and Eddy De Wolff Van Westerrode, was won by Rodney Martin aboard SS Dante. Owned by Andrea Beatty's Saffron Stables, Dante is sired by Welfenadel x APH Rocadero. He scored 8 in the first round and 8.2 in the final class to total 16.2 points and grab the national title. Guest judge Emile Faurie praised the horse for his "big gearbox, great mechanics, trainable and adjustable body." The pair pushed Hana Thompson on the chestnut Royal Deelite (by Royal Hit x Don Ramiro) to a second place position with a double 7.9 score. Melinda Morris and TS Sir Donn (by Sir Donnerhall x Weltmeyer) were good for bronze.
The winner of the 5-year old division was Daniella Dierks on the chestnut mare Sugarloaf Sirhara (by Sir Donnerhall I x Capone). The mare is owned by G & J Farrell and bred by Lyn and Malcolm Gilbert. The combination scored 7.52 in round one and 9 in the second round with guest judge rider Emile Faurie to build up a point advantage from the runner up. Faurie commented that Sirhara is an honest and willing ride and he praised her for her great mechanics and natural uphill way of going. Sirhara scored a total of 16.52 and kept Anthony Bartlett on WS Donnermann (by Sir Donnerhall I x Landadel) almost a full point behind her. In the first round though Caroline Wagner's WS Donnermann took the lead excelling with his canter, but he lost the overall victory in the finals in which he scored an 8 under guest judge rider Emile Faurie. Bartlett finished with the silver medal on 15.82 points. Amanda Shoobridge and Revelwood Destiny (by Depardieu x Lanthan) were third with a 7.38 score in the round which took them into the guest judge finals, where the horse ended up with a 7.6 from Faurie.
In the 6-year old division 2010's 4-year old champion SS Sonata Hit (by Sandro Hit x Cleintino x Landadel) reclaimed the national title. Owned by lawyer Andrea Beatty and ridden by Rodney Martin, the horse scored 8 in the qualification round and got 8.5 from guest judge rider Faurie. The British rider commented that the horse was a beautiful, elegant type with great ability to adjust and an excellent canter. Susan Elekessy and Don Rubin (by Frederick x Regardez Moi) were the runners-up with a 7.64 score followed by a 7.8 guest judge score. They were just a little bit ahead of bronze medallists Katina Smith on Just Dance R (by Richmeed Dancer x Duntroon).
The Champions of Champions class, in which the three winners of each division face each other, was judged by Emile Faurie, Peter Engel, Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode and Ricky MacMillan. Sugarloaf Sirhara was named grand champion.
Pony Power in Werribee
Two pony divisions were staged at the Dressage with the Stars in Werribee. For the 4-year olds a material class round preceded the guest judge under saddle finals and no less than 11 ponies presented itself in Werribee, proving that pony dressage is on a rise in Australia. Andrea Taylor's Rosewater Driving Miss Daisy (by Don't Worry x Broomford Dancer) was the winner of her age category and later on named Champion of Champions by Emile Faurie and Joan Macartney. Under Ben Terry, the British bred sport pony scored 8.26 in the material class round and it received a 7.7 for guest judge rider Cassia Montgomery to total 15.96 points. Driving Miss Daisy faced much competition from Yarramee Smarty Pants (by Bookra the Coalman x Northern Aslan), which was second in the first round with 7.62 but won the finals with 7.8. His total of 15.42 earned him silver. Rebecca Haythorpe and her palomino mare Diamond Park Rose (by Byalee Briar x Wyndermere) finished third with 7.06 and 7.6.
In the 5-year old pony division Robbie Soster shone aboard Bellvale City Lights. Owned by Alexis Buckley and bred by Bellvale Riding Ponies, this young star is by Work Of Art out of Misty Morn Of Astral. Judges Peter Engel and Ricky MacMillan scored the pair 7.48 in the first round, which ranked them second, but guest judge rider Montgomery gave the pony a 7.8 to build up a minimal lead of 0.06 points for the national title. Bellvale City Lights became the national champion with 15.28 points. Helena Shanal and Double S Dark Sun (by Alessandro x Marvelous Encore) were second after scoring 7.72 and 7.5 (15.22 total). Benjamin Terry and Berni Saunders' Arabian riding pony Burren-Dah Melrose (by Imperial Journal x Rotherwood Footlight) slotted in third with 6.96 and 7.6 (14.56 total).
Only two entries showed up for the 6-year old pony championship and those two struggled with the difficulty level of the test. No qualifier took place for the Australian 6-year old pony championship. Young Rider Georgina Barrey rode the Brumby bred Brumby Jack but had problems with the contact. Wendy Higgins and the Welsh bred Hillswood Red Comet were the second pair to gain experience in Werribee.
Results 2012 Australian Young Horse Championships
Australian Young Dressage Horse Material Championship for 4-yo horses
- 1. SS Dante - Rodney Martin - 8 - 8.2 --- 16.2
- 2. Royal Deelite - Hana Thompson - 7.9 - 7.9 --- 15.8
- 3. TS Sir Donn - Melinda Morris - 7.84 - 7.5 --- 15.34
Australian Young Dressage Horse Championship for 5-yo horses
- 1. Sugarloaf Sirhara - Daniella Dierks - 7.52 - 9 --- 16.52
- 2. WS Donnermann - Anthony Bartlett - 7.82 - 8 --- 15.82
- 3. Revelwood Destiny - Amanda Shoobridge - 7.38 - 7.6 --- 14.98
Australian Young Dressage Horse Championship for 6-yo horses
- 1. SS Sonata Hit - Rodney Martin - 8 - 8.5 --- 16.5
- 2. Don Rubin - Susan Elekessy - 7.64 - 7.8 --- 15.44
- 3. Just Dance R - Katina Smith - 7.98 - 7.2 --- 15.18
Australian Young Dressage Pony Championship for 4-yo ponies
- 1. Rosewater Driving Miss Daisy - Benjamin Terry - 8.26 - 7.7 --- 15.96
- 2. Yarramee Smarty Pants - Bill Chrisanis - 7.62 - 7.8 --- 15.42
- 3. Diamond Park Rose - Rebecca Haythorpe - 7.06 - 7.6 --- 14.66
Australian Young Dressage Pony Championship for 5-yo ponies
- Bellvale City Lights - Robbie Soster - 7.48 - 7.8 --- 15.28
- Double S Dark Sun - Helena Shanal - 7.72 - 7.5 --- 15.22
- Burren-Dah Melrose - Benjamin Terry - 6.96 - 7.6 --- 14.56
Australian Young Dressage Pony Championship for 6-yo ponies
- no qualifier
Photo SS Dante © Toni Venhaus
Related Links
San Jose, Champion of Champions at 2010 Dressage with the Stars
Plenty of Stars at the 2011 Dressage with the Stars CDI-W in Werribee